NEW RENT LAW FOR UT CHANDIGARH COMES INTO FORCE, UNION HOME MINISTRY EXTENDS ASSAM TENANCY ACT, 2021

The erstwhile East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (as extended to Chandigarh in the year 1974) no more applicable in Chandigarh : Advocate Hemant Kumar

Face2News/Chandigarh –

On 6 May 2026, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) vide a Notification published in the Gazette of India has extended Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 to the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Hemant Kumar, an Advocate at Punjab & Haryana High Court, who keeps a close vigil on administrative and legal developments concerning the region, told that in exercise of the powers conferred by section 87 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), the Central Government has extended the Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 (Assam Act No. XXXI of 2021), as in force in the State of Assam on the date of notification, to the Union territory of Chandigarh, subject to the certain modifications.

The new Act viz. Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 as extended to the Union territory of Chandigarh has come into force from the date of its publication in the Gazette of India i.e. 6 May 2026.

The Advocate asserted that before the latest extension of Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 to Chandigarh by MHA, the City Beautiful of Chandigarh was being governed by erstwhile old Punjab rent law viz. East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 as extended to Chandigarh in the year 1974.

Of course, in the neighbouring State of Punjab, the Punjab Rent Act, 1995 came into force in the entire state of Punjab about twelve years ago with effect from 29 Aug 2014, however the aforementioned 1995 Act was not extended to UT Chandigarh for the reasons best known to Central Government, quipped Hemant.

Section 15 of the Notification published by MHA pertaining to Assam Tenancy Act, 2021 as extended to the Union territory of Chandigarh also stipulates that The East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (East Punjab Act III of 1949), which is in force in the Union territory of Chandigarh immediately before the commencement of this Act, is hereby repealed. However notwithstanding such repeal, all cases and other proceedings under the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (East Punjab Act III of 1949), pending, on the date of commencement of this Act, shall be continued and disposed of in accordance with the provisions of the East Punjab Urban Rent Restriction Act, 1949 (East Punjab Act III of 1949), as if that Act had continued to be in force and this Act had not been enacted.